Container and method for filling batteries with electrolyte

Abstract

A method of charging a battery with electrolyte, utilizing a container having a supply of electrolyte therein and a number of outlet spouts which are simultaneously inserted into the battery cells while the battery is on its side such that when the battery is moved to upright position the electrolyte simultaneously pours into the battery cells from the spouts respectively. The container has a plurality of cells communicating with the spouts respectively and a conduit in the container interconnects all of the cells of the container.

We claim: 
     
       1. For use with an acid cell battery having a plurality of cells to be charged with acid and inlets communicating with the cells respectively; a portable container having wall portion defining a chamber and acid in the chamber, one of said wall portions having a plurality of pouring spouts communicating with said chamber and alignable with the inlets of an associated battery such that said spouts may be simultaneously aligned with said inlets respectively to simultaneously pour acid from the chamber into the batter cells through the inlets when the container is placed into a pouring position relative to the battery, partition means in said chamber defining a plurality of cells, said spouts being in communication with said container cells respectively, and wherein said cells in the container are in communication with each other, and said wall portions include upper and lower opposite wall portions and opposite side wall portions, said partition means extend to and between said opposite side wall portions and from said upper wall portion towards said lower wall portion, and wherein said spouts are located in said upper wall portion and each spout includes a pouring passage, said container being charged with electrolyte at a level which is below all of the pouring passages when the container is positioned on a particular one of said side wall portions thereof. 
     
     
       2. The container defined in claim 1 wherein said lower wall portion has a means for establishing a vent into the container. 
     
     
       3. The container defined in claim 2 wherein said spouts are dimensioned to be inserted within the inlets of an associated battery. 
     
     
       4. The container defined in claim 3 wherein said spouts each have removable seal means formed integral therewith for sealing the spouts prior to use. 
     
     
       5. The container defined in claim 2 wherein said lower wall portion includes a closure for closing the container after it has been supplied with acid. 
     
     
       6. The container defined in claim 1 wherein said lower wall portion includes a recess chamber having a filling aperture therein. 
     
     
       7. The container defined in claim 1 wherein said partitions are spaced from the lower wall portion to define a passage communicating all of the cells with each other. 
     
     
       8. The container defined in claim 7 wherein said lower wall portion is a closure for closing the container after being supplied with acid. 
     
     
       9. The container defined in claim 8 wherein said closure is hinged to the container. 
     
     
       10. The container defined in claim 8 wherein said closure has means for establishing a vent in communication with said chamber and cells. 
     
     
       11. The container defined in claim 1 wherein said spouts are at the same level and spaced rom each other corresponding to the spacing of the battery inlets. 
     
     
       12. The container defined in claim 1 wherein each pouring passage is surrounded by and spaced from the spout. 
     
     
       13. A portable container for supplying a battery cell with electrolyte, the container comprising a body defining a chamber divided into a number of cells, a predetermined amount of electrolyte in the chamber, said body having pouring spouts respectively communicating with the cells and dimensioned to be inserted in cells of a battery to pour the electrolyte of the container therein, rupturable seals in the pouring spouts and adapted to be ruptured to enable pouring of the electrolyte through the spouts, vent means on the container for venting the chamber including the cells thereof to permit pouring of electrolyte therefrom, means for supplying electrolyte into the chamber of the container and for closing the chamber after electrolyte is supplied therein, and conduit means communicating cells of the container with each other and wherein said conduit means is located such that when the container is placed in a predetermined position the electrolyte will be equalized among the cells of the container and said body includes wall portions including upper and lower opposite wall portions and opposite side wall portions, said body further including partitions extending between said opposite side wall portions and from said upper wall portion towards said lower wall portion, and wherein said spouts are located in said upper wall portion and each spout includes a pouring passage, said container being charged with electrolyte at a level which is below all of the pouring passages when the container is positioned on a particular one of said side wall portions thereof. 
     
     
       14. The container defined in claim 13 wherein said partitions define said cells and said conduit means extends transversely of said partitions adjacent said lower wall portion. 
     
     
       15. The container defined in claim 13 wherein said lower wall portion is made separately from other walls of the containers but sealed thereto. 
     
     
       16. The container defined in claim 15 wherein said means for supplying electrolyte includes a recess in said lower wall portion and a filling aperture in the recess for filling the container with electrolyte.